Return to Use Demonstration Projects

EPA is working with stakeholders at Superfund sites that have been cleaned up yet remain vacant due to real or perceived barriers to their reuse. At many of these sites, these stakeholders are joining with the Agency to move forward with reuse in a manner that does not interfere with the cleanup remedy and maintains protectiveness of human health and the environment at the site. These site-specific partnerships are key elements of "demonstration projects" for the Agency's Return to Use (RTU) Initiative. Following are Region 9 RTU sites:

Ready for Reuse (RfR) Determinations

A Ready for Reuse (RfR) determination is a redevelopment tool that EPA has created to provide information that a site is “ready for reuse” and will remain protective for that use, so long as any use limitations established by EPA continue to be met. An RfR determination provides potential users of formerly contaminated sites with an environmental status report. The report documents a technical determination by EPA that all or a portion of a property at a site can support specified types of uses while remaining protective of human health and the environment.

Use of RfR determinations has proven to be valuable for dealing with issues of Superfund site stigma and helping to eliminate confusion over what future uses are appropriate at a site. In addition, developing an RfR determination presents an opportunity not only to reaffirm the institutional controls (ICs) selected in a site’s decision documents, but also has the potential to create an additional layer of IC protection. More information on the RfR Guidance...